Alarm system



Feb. 4, 1936. L, i BOWNE 2,029,699

ALARM SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1933 TO MA/N OFF ICE POLAR/ZED lA/VENTOR L.J. BOWNE A TTOR/VE 3 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED stares ants-s9 ALARMSYSTEM Application September 29, 1933, Serial No. 691,513

3 Claims. (01. 175-320) This invention relates to alarm systems and moreparticularly to an alarm system for indicating by code signals emergencyconditions in a protected area.

The object of this invention is to provide an alarm system which willgive clear and distinct code signals to indicate emergency conditions ina protected area and the location of the emergency condition.

A feature of this invention resides in the inclusion in the system of acondenser controlled timing relay which transforms signal pulses ofdifferent time duration sent in by a code sending device into pulses ofuniform time duration.

The system disclosed in the drawing provides for sending code signals toa central station from various points by operating emergency signalboxes. This system also includes means by which code signals will beautomatically sent in to the central station whenever a fire breaks outin a protected area. The system also provides for operating signaldevices in various parts of a building whenever an emergency signal issent to the central station.

Referring to the drawing, the system includes a central station A whichmay be located at some advantageous point in the building and an area Bincluding the apparatus to be protected. The area B is divided off intothree sections representing, for instance, three floor sections of abuilding. The emergency signal stations, the fire detection apparatusand the code signal sending devices in each floor are substantially thesame, the only difference being in the code wheels of the code signalsending devices.

At the central station A are a main battery l for supplying energizingcurrent to the system, a set of relays and signal lamps controlledthereby to indicate various conditions in the system, an alarm device 2for sounding emergency alarm signals or fire alarm signals initiatedfrom the protected premises, a battery failure alarm 3, relays to closethe battery failure alarm circuit, an alarm circuit extending to a.remotely located central ofiice, and multi-contact relays 4#l tocomplete circuits from the main battery to alarm signal devices locatedwithin the protected area.

Located on each floor in the protected area are the following: A codesignal sending device 5, emergency alarm station boxes networks 7 of alow melting point conductor, and a horn or other signal device 8. Thenetworks 7 of the low melting point conductor are in a local circuitincluding the local battery 9, relays l0 and H and the conductors l2 andI3.

Under normal conditions, a closed circuit is maintained between thecentral station A. and the protected area B as follows: Ground, mainbattery l, conductor E i, resistance it, current indicator It, linerelay i'l, conductor i8, emergency alarm boxes 6t, either left orright-hand armatures and front contacts of relay iii, conductor is,either left or right-hand armatures and front contacts of relay ll,conductor 28,

spring contacts 2!, conductor conductor i8,

emergency alarm boxes E'ii, either right or left-hand armatures andfront contacts of relay iii, conductor it, either right or left-handarmatures and front contacts of relay ll, conductor ii, spring contacts2!, conductor 22, conductor 88', emergency alarm boxes 6", either rightor left-hand armatures and front contacts of relay l8, conductor it",either right or lefthand armatures and front contacts of relay ll",

conductor 2%, spring contacts 2i", conductorv winding of relay 24 toground.

The code signal sending devices 5, 5' and 5" are manually wound springdriven code signal sending devices each comprising a driving spring 25,a code wheel driven thereby, spring contacts 2i and a latch 2'5. Thedriving spring 25' is manually wound by means of a key 28. The latch 2'?normally prevents rotation of the code wheel 26 and While the particularlatching means employed is not of importance in connection with thesystem described it may, for instance, comprise, as shown in thedrawing, a notched wheel 29 and a centrally pivoted lever 30, the lever38 having a point in engagement with the notch in the notched wheel 29.The code wheel 26 and the notched wheel 29 are rotated in acounterclockwise direction by the driving spring 25 when the point ofthe centrally pivoted lever 30 is removed from the notch in the Wheel29.

in shunt with the emergency alarm boxes 56 is a trip magnet 35 torelease the latch on the code signal sending device. The trip magnet 33!has a high resistance winding and is normally not sufiiciently energizedto release the latch on the code signal sending device. Assuming,however, that one of the emergency alarm boxes 6 is pulled so that thecontacts in the box become separated, the current in the normally closedcircuit not being able to pass through the emergency alarm boxes l56will be directed through the winding of the trip magnet 31. The tripmagnet (ii will then operate and release the latch in the code signalsending device. Upon operation of the trip magnet 35 and release of thecentrally pivoted lever 39 from engagement with the notch in the notchedwheel 29, the wheel 29 and the code wheel 26 will rotate for onecomplete revolution. This will cause alternate separation and engagementof the spring contacts 2! in accordance with the high and low points onthe code wheel and will cause the sending of a code signal to thecentral station A. The emergency signal boxes 66 are located indifferent sections of the building floor area and are provided for thesending of emergency signals. For instance, if a person on a certainfloor level discovers a break in a water pipe or a fire in the building,an alarm may be sent into the central station by pulling one of theemergency alarm boxes 6.

In connection with the protection of telephone apparatus in a telephoneexchange, the network I of the low melting point conductor may bedistributed throughout the various cable and relay racks or otherapparatus supporting means in the exchange, or may be distributedthroughout any area in which a fire might break out. The local circuitincluding the network 1 is traced as fol lows: Local battery 9, windingof relay I ll, conductor I2, network I of the low melting pointconductor, conductor I3, winding of relay I I, to ground. The relays I0and II are normally energized and maintain their right and left-handarmatures against the respective front contacts. In the event, however,that a fire breaks out in a cable or relay rack section, the low meltingpoint conductor in the immedate vicinity of the fire melts and partsthereby breaking the local closed circuit. The breaking of this circuitcauses deenergization of the relays It and I I. While it is obvious thatone relay in the local circuit would be sufficient for successfuloperation of the system, two relays each with two armatures andcorresponding front contacts have been provided as a precaution againstfailure of the relay to operate or faulty contacts. When the localcircuit becomes broken, the relays i0 and II become deenergized. Thearmatures are released from engagement with the front contacts and thecode signal sending device 5 is brought into operation. For instance,when relays IQ and I I are deenergized the circuit including theemergency alarm boxes 6-$ and conductor I9 is broken. Current passingover the circuit from the central station will then have to traverse thewinding of the trip magnet 35. The trip magnet 3! thereupon operates torelease the point of the centrally pivoted lever 30 from engagement withthe notch in the wheel 29.

Assuming that the local circuit in the first floor section has beenbroken by melting of the low melting point conductor in the network 7and the relays Iiland II have become deenergized and have released theirarmatures from engagement with the front contacts, the circuit from thecentral station would then be as follows: Ground, main battery I,conductor I4, resistance 15. current indicating device 5%, line relayI'l, conductor I8, winding of trip magnet 3i, conductor 32, conductor2!], spring contacts 2|, conductor 22, conductor I8, emergency alarmboxes 6'', either right or left-hand armatures and front contacts ofrelay ID, conductor I9, either right or lefthand armatures and frontcontacts of relay II, conductor 20', spring contacts 2i, conductor .2,conductor I8", emergency alarm boxes 5"-6", either right or left-handarmatures and front contacts of relay I0", conductor I9", either rightor left-hand armatures and front contacts of relay Ii", conductor 28',spring contacts 2I, conductor 23, winding of relay 2% to ground.

Upon turning of the code wheel 26 in a counterclockwise direction underthe action of driving spring 25, spring contacts 2i will be alternatelyopened and closed in accordance with the high and low points in the codewheel 25. Line relay I1 and relay 2 3 will then be alternatelydeenergized and energized in accordance with the code signals from thecode signal sending device 5. Code signal lamp 33 will then fiash inaccordance with the code signal. The circuit to the code signal 1amp 33is as follows: Ground, main battery I, conductor I l, conductor 34,conductor 35, code signal lamp 33, back contact and left-hand armatureof relay 2d to ground.

The alarm 2 will also operate in accordance with the code signal comingin. The circuit through the alarm 2 is as follows: Ground, main batteryI, conductor Il, conductor 3 5, alarm 2, conductor 36, back contact andright-hand armature of relay 24 to ground.

Relay 3? will also operate to put ground on conductors 38 and 39 toextend the code signal to alarm devices located at the main centraloffice, not shown. The circuit of relay 3i is as follows: Ground, mainbattery I, conductor i l, conductor 34, winding of relay 3?, conductor36, back con tact and right-hand armature of relay 24 to ground.

When an emergency alarm box 6 has been pulled or when a break hasoccurred in the network I, the code signal sending device 5 is broughtinto operation and the line relay I! becomes deenergized. Deenergizationoi the line relay i'I completes a circuit for the multi-contact relays4-4 as follows: Ground, main battery I, conductor I l, conductor 34,conductor 5!], windings of multi-contact relays 5-, conductor 4|, frontcontact and armature of polarized relay 2, conductor I5, back contactand armature of line relay IT, to ground. Multi-contact relays 4- 3 arethereupon operated to complete the circuits to the signal devices 8, 8'and 8", which are located in the different floor sections of theprotected area. The circuits to these signal devices are as follows: Tothe signal device 8, ground, main battery I, conductor It, conductor 34,conductor 3 i, conductor 45, conductor 46, signal device 8, conductor47, conductor 8, outer righthand front contact and armature ofmulti-contact relay 4 to ground. To the signal device 8', the circuit isthe same as for signal device 8 to and including conductor 45 where itbranches off over conductor 49. From thence the circuit continuesthrough signal device 8, conductor 58, to inner left-hand front contactand armature of multi-contact relay 4 to ground. To the signal device 8"the circuit is the same as for signal device 8 to and includingconductor 45, thence through signal device 8", conductor 5i to the outerleft-hand front contact and armature of multi-contact relay 4 to ground.The signal devices 8, 8 and 8" operate to produce a signal in thevarious floor sections in accordance with the code signal coming fromwhichever of the code signal sending devices is operated. While normallythere is a complete circuit through the multi-contact relays 4 l,through the armature and front contact of time supervisory relay 52 andthe winding of relay 53, the winding of relay E8 is of a sufficientlyhigh resistance value to prevent operation of the multi-contact relays56 are rovided for supervision of the signal devices 8, 8 and 8",respectively, and are normally energized. These relays, however, becomedeenergized when the multi-contact relays 44 are energized and thesignal devices 8, 8' and 8" operate. Signal supervisory relays 54, 55and 56 through their left-hand armatures and corresponding back contactscontrol the respective lamp signals 51, 58 and 59 which flash inaccordance with the code signal. These supervisory relays also throughtheir right-hand armatures and corresponding back contacts provideground for the alarm 2 and relay 37. The circuit for the normalenergization of the signal supervisory relay 54 is the same as for thesignal device 8 to and including conductor 41 where it branches offthrough conductor 60 and through the wind-' ing of signal supervisoryrelay 54 to ground. The circuit for the normal energization of signalsupervisory relay 55 is the same as for the signal device 8 to andincluding conductor from whence it branches off through conductor SI andthrough the winding of signal supervisory relay to ground. The circuitfor the normal energization of signal supervisory relay 56 is the sameas for the signal device 8 to and including conductor 5| from whence itbranches off through conductor 62 and through the winding of signalsupervisory relay 56 to ground. While there is normally a completecircuit through each of the signal devices 8, 8' and 8" through thewinding of the respective signal supervisory relays 54, 55 and 56, thereis not sufficient current flowing to operate the signal devices 8, 8'and 8" due to the resistance in the windings of the respectivesupervisory relays 54, 55 and 56.

To transform signal impulses sent by the code signal sending devicesinto pulses of the proper duration to satisfactorily operate the signaldevices 8, 8' and 8" and to limit the duration of operation of thesignal devices should trouble occur in the circuit, the polarized relay42 and time supervisory relay 52 are provided.

Polarized relay 42 is normally maintained energized over the circuit asfollows: Ground, main battery I, conductor l4, conductor 34, conductor63, secondary Winding of polarized relay 42, conductor 43, winding oftime supervisory relay 52, conductor 53, front contact and armature ofline relay I! to ground. The primary winding of polarized relay 4?. isenergized as follows: Ground, main battery I, conductor l4, conductor34, resistance 64, primary winding of polarized relay 42, conductor 65,winding of relay 66 to ground. A condenser 61 connected to ground on oneside is provided in connection with the secondary winding of polarizedrelay 42. When the line relay ll becomes deenergized and releases itsarmature thus breaking the normal circuit for the secondary winding ofpolarized relay 42, condenser Bl' charges and maintains the secondarywinding of polarized relay 42 energized for a brief period. When thecondenser 61 becomes fully charged, secondary winding of the polarizedrelay 42 becomes deenergized and is overcome by the pull of the primarywinding. The armature of polarized relay 42 thereupon moves against itsback contact and breaks the circuit of the multi-contact relays 44. Thetime supervisory relay 52 also releases its armature and breaks thecircuit of relay 68. Relay 68 releases its armatures and puts groundthrough its righthand armature on the alarm signal 2 and relay 31.Through the release of its left-hand armature, relay 68 puts ground onlamp signal 69. Relay 66 is normally energized from the main battery Iby way of resistance 54, the primary winding of polarized relay 42 andconductor 65 and will release to cause the sounding or the alarm 2 andlighting of the lamp 19 when any trouble occurs in the primary circuitof the polarized relay 42.

The primary winding of the polarized relay 42 makes the duration ofcharging of the condenser 6'! independent or" battery voltage. Itopposes the secondary winding with the result that the period for whichthe charging of the condenser holds the polarized relay operatedrepresents the difference in effect of the two windings and is nottherefore appreciably affected by the battery voltage. The polarizedrelay 42 thus insures a short blast or signal from the signal devices 8,8' and 8" each time the alarm circuit is opened.

In the event of failure of the main battery I, relay H becomesdeenergized and closes a circuit through its left-hand armature and backcontact to an alarm 35 which is energized from some outside currentsupply source such, for instance, as a source of 20-cycle A. C.indicated at 12. The deenergization of relay ll also puts ground onconductors 38 and 35-? which lead to alarm signal devices located at aremote central oilice, not shown. Relay ll is normally energized fromthe main battery by way of conductor l4, conductor 34, conductor '53,resistance 14, winding of relay ll to ground.

The system shown on the drawing is an adaptation of the presentinvention to a complete emergency signal and automatic fire alarmsystem. The invention, however, is not limited to the particular systemshown in the drawing but may obviously be used in various otherautomatic alarm and fire detection systems without departing from thespirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination of a relay, a normally closed circuit for said relay,said relay being responsive to breaks of varying lengths of time in saidclosed circuit, said relay having normally closed contacts, a secondrelay normally energized over the normally closed contacts of said firstrela a circuit for said second relay including the normally closedcontacts of said first relay, a second circuit for said second relay,means in said second circuit to hold said second relay operated for apredetermined time interval after said first relay releases the normallyclosed contacts of said first relay, and a contact released by saidsecond relay at the end of the predetermined time interval.

2. The combination of a relay, a normally closed circuit for said relay,said relay being responsive to interruptions of cur ent in said normallyclosed circuit, said relay having normally closed contacts, a secondrelay normally energized over the normally closed contacts of said firstrelay, an operating circuit for said second relay including the normallyclosed contacts of said first relay, said second relay having contactsnormally held closed, a holding circuit for said second relay, and anelectrical capacitance element of predetermined value in said holdingcircuit to maintain said holding circuit operative for a predeterminedtime interval after said first relay has released.

3. The combination of a relay, a normally closed circuit for said relasaid relay having normally closed contacts and being responsive tocurrent interruptions in said normally closed circuit, a polarized relayhaving a primary and a circuit to maintain said secondary windingeffective to hold the contacts of said polarized relay closed for apredetermined time interval after said first relay has released, saidprimary winding of said polarized relay opposing said secondary windingto such an extent as to make the duration of charging of said condenserand operation of said polarized relay, in releasing its contacts,independent o-f battery voltage.

LANGFORD J. BOWNE.

